Paul Barber - first impressions

[Silverhatch]

If the service was first class at the stadium we'd probably sell shed loads of everything. But it's not. Having Harveys and really decent pies has meant that we have sold huge amounts 'despite' having to put up with Azure's service level. I know for a fact that me and my mates would not have spent too long in queues for shit beer and pukka pies! Good products have overcome shit service.

 

[queens park pete]

I am another ST who stays because there is decent ale. I would not waste four quid on a plastic bottle of lager- I'd head off and get a real beer in town. The club would lose at least 10 quid a game from me and 3 of my mates.
The local produce angle has been a very successful way of establishing a traditional feel to a new stadium, branding if you like, precisely why it is not plastic like some other new stadiums.

 

[HAILSHAM SEAGULL]

They used to sell Harveys at The County Ground Hove. The CEO Brooks sold out to Speckled Hen on the wicket covers, and Harveys is now only available in the members pavillion.
But the club need the money to compete and sign better players. Bit of a catch 22

 

[Gwylan]

They used to sell Harveys at The County Ground Hove. The CEO Brooks sold out to Speckled Hen on the wicket covers, and Harveys is now only available in the members pavillion.
But the club need the money to compete and sign better players. Bit of a catch 22

Slight differences: 1) Speckled Hen is a decent(ish) beer - it's not replacing Harveys with John Smith.

2) The club doesn't want punters to hang around after the game is over to ease transport pressure - quite the reverse, they're quick to turf us out.

3) Sussex needs every penny it can get, it doesn't have 22,000+ people turning up every fortnight

 

[Lady Whistledown]

(This collective Harveys related back-slapping is also a bit off when lager and cider drinkers have been largely abandoned when it comes to on-concourse drinking.)

RT.

Chuffed to bits you're all enjoying your Harveys, but I can't stand beer or lager, therefore I'm stuck with Strongbow, the Reading FC of ciders.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Can I just add, echoing another poster on here, that way back in the 1990s some time, I remember standing on the East Terrace at the Goldstone, whereby the Albion's newly appointed Chief Executive came wandering up, wanting to know how long we'd supported the Albion, showing a real interest, and promising that the fans views would be listened to and that great plans were afoot for the future.

How refreshing, we thought, makes a change from the stuffy, non-communicative regimes of the past. At last, the club was really making an effort to engage with the supporters. We were quite impressed.

That particular Chief Executive's subsequent engagements with fans, of course, included being chased out of his seat at home games, being smuggled out of grounds in a laundry basket, and taking Albion's own supporters to court.

I don't know nearly enough about Paul Barber to be able to judge him at the moment. I trust Tony Bloom's decision making totally, but equally, I don't think it's wrong to judge Barber on his performance over the next few years, and not by his reputation right now.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

I don't know nearly enough about Paul Barber to be able to judge him at the moment. I trust Tony Bloom's decision making totally, but equally, I don't think it's wrong to judge Barber on his performance over the next few years, and not by his reputation right now.

Quite right. And TLO put that in the thread title.

 

[ada4bha]

Shirt sponosrship ... not too bothered so long as the company concerned is not tied up with the losers up the A23 in Croydon

Pies... I eat a pie at most away games ...have never enjoyed a Pukka Pie and will never buy another ... i tend to try the pie if it is not Pukka ... Piglet's can be hit and miss but usually due to poor handling by Azure ... i buy one most home games but return it if it is not up to standard

Beer ... I like many different ales inc Harvey's ... I will not drink any of the stuff like John Smiths/Boddingtons etc ......I also drink lager usually Kronenbourg/Heineken or Peroni (Pilsner Urquell used to be my favourite though not had any for a couple of years) .. I will NOT drink Fosters and rarely Carlsberg/Carling ....

If I do not like the product on sale, I will not buy it for the sake of it

 

[Tooting Gull]

He has the potential to be a very good addition to the team - we'll see. I certainly won't pay too much attention to some early PR exercise with a small group of fans, actions speak louder than words.

If you are familiar with doublespeak, 'having no intention to put up prices' is not the same as 'we won't'. So I'll reserve judgment because my fear is that we have an ultimate finite(ish) capacity and to in some way compensate for that we could end up pricing people out, like Arsenal.

But I'm a fair-minded bloke, and if I don't see that happening over the next 2/3 seasons I'll be very glad and acknowledge it.

 

[See-Goals]

I'd prefer another ale to Harvey's to be honest but, in general, quality and geography do play a part in my purchases if there's a decision to be made. If it was just crap always on sale I wouldn't hang around at the ground though. I don't see sense in regularly spending money on something I don't want.

Hophead, no?

 

[Digweeds Trousers]

I think Barber has a tricky job. We can be quite a 'difficult' fan base to deal with. Many perhaps still want the level of engagement that we have become used to on the back of the dark days - fan power at this club has played a part uncommon in many clubs. I get the feeling that many believe that they saved the club - and rightly so. It was unquestionably fan power that highlighted the issues and ensured that they did not slip off the radar at any time.

I also though read the threads on here with many people bemoaning the lack of wages, the fact that we lose out occasionally on player targets because of the lack of competitive budget - to be fair the BBC Sussex interview with Bloom earlier in the week made it clear that outside of the those clubs with Parachute payments and one or two others we are competitive.

However Barber will feel that there is more to come - more lucrative revenue streams, a continual 'commercialisation' of the club and pushing the brand. Finally, for the first time ever we are a genuine commercial attraction. Yes the late 70's and early 80's saw us at our peak in terms of where we were in the pecking order of league football - but this in my opinion is a very different time.

It's a little like stick or twist. Does he get the club up another level or two by making us more profitable in certain ways - but changes are potentially going to alienate elements of the fan base.

I think he has a great opportunity but equally I think it is a very tough job he has.

This club is unique in it's part the fans have played over many years. Let's hope that with Bloom at the helm we get the perfect match between a profitable growth organisation but one that always has a sense of itself and the history that has created many of our characteristics as a club.

For the record the club have rinsed me. I cannot avoid a pie, I sink three or four pints of Harvey's every game and I do love the whole beer / football expeerience.

HOwever at Palace, Coventry and Forest, I did not touch a drop as it was £4 for a bottle of lukewarm piss. If this were the case at The Amex, I would stay in Lewes as late as I could, or leave the pub in my village as late as possible.

I want to contribute to our financial success but the Harvey's and Piglets pies are frankly the only reason I am at the ground 90 minutes before kick off and sometimes an hour after. My rough guess is the club pull £30 from me every home game in refreshments.

It's become my drinking treat for the week rather than go out on a Friday night. And if it was Foster, and Pukka pies then I would either continue to have a Saturday lunchtime treat elsewhere before the game, or indluge in a few pints on a Friday night.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Hophead, no?

This will do but I have never seen it in my part of the ground.

If I was in charge Id have you all revved up with Brewdog beers pre-match. They got lagers, they got ales and they got stouts. Something for everyone and some at eye watering percentages.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

He has the potential to be a very good addition to the team - we'll see. I certainly won't pay too much attention to some early PR exercise with a small group of fans, actions speak louder than words.

If you are familiar with doublespeak, 'having no intention to put up prices' is not the same as 'we won't'. So I'll reserve judgment because my fear is that we have an ultimate finite(ish) capacity and to in some way compensate for that we could end up pricing people out, like Arsenal.

But I'm a fair-minded bloke, and if I don't see that happening over the next 2/3 seasons I'll be very glad and acknowledge it.

Very much this.

 

[The Large One]

If we are making more money I couldn't give a toss if they done Harvey's or not, and anyways people WILL buy it

This thread appears to indicate that this is not necessarily the case, and will not drink unwelcome beers.

YOU might not give a toss - many others do.

 

[The Large One]

I think Barber has a tricky job. We can be quite a 'difficult' fan base to deal with. Many perhaps still want the level of engagement that we have become used to on the back of the dark days - fan power at this club has played a part uncommon in many clubs. I get the feeling that many believe that they saved the club - and rightly so. It was unquestionably fan power that highlighted the issues and ensured that they did not slip off the radar at any time.

I also though read the threads on here with many people bemoaning the lack of wages, the fact that we lose out occasionally on player targets because of the lack of competitive budget - to be fair the BBC Sussex interview with Bloom earlier in the week made it clear that outside of the those clubs with Parachute payments and one or two others we are competitive.

However Barber will feel that there is more to come - more lucrative revenue streams, a continual 'commercialisation' of the club and pushing the brand. Finally, for the first time ever we are a genuine commercial attraction. Yes the late 70's and early 80's saw us at our peak in terms of where we were in the pecking order of league football - but this in my opinion is a very different time.

It's a little like stick or twist. Does he get the club up another level or two by making us more profitable in certain ways - but changes are potentially going to alienate elements of the fan base.

I think he has a great opportunity but equally I think it is a very tough job he has.

This club is unique in it's part the fans have played over many years. Let's hope that with Bloom at the helm we get the perfect match between a profitable growth organisation but one that always has a sense of itself and the history that has created many of our characteristics as a club.

For the record the club have rinsed me. I cannot avoid a pie, I sink three or four pints of Harvey's every game and I do love the whole beer / football expeerience.

HOwever at Palace, Coventry and Forest, I did not touch a drop as it was £4 for a bottle of lukewarm piss. If this were the case at The Amex, I would stay in Lewes as late as I could, or leave the pub in my village as late as possible.

I want to contribute to our financial success but the Harvey's and Piglets pies are frankly the only reason I am at the ground 90 minutes before kick off and sometimes an hour after. My rough guess is the club pull £30 from me every home game in refreshments.

It's become my drinking treat for the week rather than go out on a Friday night. And if it was Foster, and Pukka pies then I would either continue to have a Saturday lunchtime treat elsewhere before the game, or indluge in a few pints on a Friday night.

Fair points all.

But I feel that we're being sidetracked into merely one aspect of his remit. Like many others, I'd be interested to see what other revenue streams are possible.

 

[Hotchilidog]

Fair points all.

But I feel that we're being sidetracked into merely one aspect of his remit. Like many others, I'd be interested to see what other revenue streams are possible.

In fairness Al, this is the only bit of the remit I really care about, I want my pint!

As for the shirts, stand and other things he can fill his and indeed our boots. He sounds like an interesting guy with some excellent experience and I'm intrigued to see what he comes up with. These could be very exciting times indeed.

 

[The Large One]

In fairness Al, this is the only bit of the remit I really care about, I want my pint!

Yeah, I s'pose. When you put it like that...

As for the shirts, stand and other things he can fill his and indeed our boots. He sounds like an interesting guy with some excellent experience and I'm intrigued to see what he comes up with. These could be very exciting times indeed.

Quite.

 

[Charles 'Charley' Charles]

Just to add my two penneth, I care more about quality than anything, yes do like the "doing my bit for local business" but to be honest if quality is there then I'm sold. I have 4 kids wife mortgage etc etc, so disposable income is at a premium. Therefore I'm careful about where I spend my free cash, last season was about getting there early with kids, pie, couple of pints for me, kids meals, fruit shoots etc for kids. If quality changed, or prices increased then I would no longer be in a situation to do that and would aim to get there half hour before kick off, then straight home, no refreshments or club shop etc. Also for the record my choice of drink would be Rattlers Cider (Cornish), so not all about local products, but quality.

I can also say, as I'm sure many others were that I was very underwhelmed with shirt sponsor last year, and this is another area where higher income can be created. To be honest was also surprised to see so many singular advertising hoardings, and wouldn't be shocked to see these replaced with the more high tec electronic ones with one main concentrated advert, such as EPL, CL and International matches. Sure there will be a "Club Partners" thing in the pipeline, with a major sponsor for each section, Card - AMEX, Flights - American Airlines, Cars - Renault etc, rather than several smaller local firms will be one large multi national.

 

[Digweeds Trousers]

I think the club will go through a major rebranding excercise this year and over the next few years. It will be interesting though as to how many will react.

21,000 in the ground - I waited for my pie for 10 minutes. Utter disgrace!
Atmosphere - this stand that stand are shit, quiet etc etc
Transport - crap!

It has been a massive change for the club, the infrastructure, the people managing the operations of the club on matchday.

It does take time and clearly this guy will be looking at all aspects of the operational resources, costs and P&L of the club.

I was merely pointing out that we are quite good at taking a pleasing aesthetic element of matchday experiences and making out that is the be all and end all as to why we come week in week out.

I dont think this chap will be coming in and changing things that are extremely popular with many supporters.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I'm intrigued to see what he comes up with.

He has mentioned gigs.